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What do you want for Christmas? Some games for your Wii, a computer, movies? What about something that is not quite so tangible? Sometimes those are the best gifts. That is kind of gift that I am getting this year: My two foster puppies are getting a forever home. While this is a tangible gift to them and to the family that is adopting them, it is also a Christmas wish that has been answered for me.
Three months ago, this was not my Christmas wish. In fact, I didn't know about these puppies three months ago. But it all started one fateful day in September. That's when I arrived with my family at my parents’ house in Livingston and happened upon two curious, yet timid puppies who were roaming about. After earning their trust, we began to feed them and tend to them.
We found out that these four month old puppies had been dumped days before. They ate as if they didn’t know when their next meal would come; their stomachs were bloated from malnutrition; and they were infested with fleas. Despite all of this, this male and female pair was sweet and loving. We spent the weekend caring for them and I tried my best to find a rescue group to take them. Sadly, rescue groups and shelters are currently overwhelmed, so this proved to be a challenging task. We finally found a rescue group in East Texas that arranged for a shelter in Houston to take them, so we loaded up the pups Sunday afternoon with the plan to drop them off Monday. We thought we’d say good-bye and that they would soon be placed in good forever homes. It was not that easy.
It turns out that they were going to euthanize the female because of a bump on her leg that was identified as a fungus. This is easily treatable, but also contagious, and the shelter has neither the time nor the resources to commit to any treatment, regardless of how simple. We found ourselves in a situation where we would either have to foster them or leave them there knowing that the female would be put down. There was only one solution – we would foster. We also had to name them - so they became Bella and Buddy.
I could not have fostered them by myself - my mom fostered in the beginning and then after I took over, she helped me by keeping them when I was out of town and letting them out during days when I was working long hours. We also had to load them up in the car with us one weekend when we all left town to go back up to the lake. Somehow, even though we weren't set up for this, we made it work. It was difficult, but I did enjoy having them and watching as they got healthy and socialized.
Bella and Buddy will spend a couple more weeks with me. The nice lady who is adopting them lives on three acres which are completely fenced in and secure. She and her husband have three kids who have wanted to open their hearts to a dog for years. Finally, mom decided that the time is right. She has already paid the adoption fee and will pick them up on Dec. 20th. They will stay at her in-laws during that week. Her in-laws will bring them over to their house Christmas morning to surprise the kids.
I don't know who I am more excited for: the kids or the puppies! Saying good-bye to them will be bittersweet. Taking care of them has been challenging and tiring, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't love them. I don't think that it is farewell though - I offered to dogsit for them should the opportunity arise.
So this Christmas gift is not just a gift for three lucky kids...it is a gift of lifelong companionship for the entire family; a gift of a safe and loving home for two scared puppies that were left for dead through no fault of their own; and it is the best Christmas gift I could ask for because I know that these sweet pups will be loved and cared for throughout their lives. I may not remember the book that I got for Christmas in 2007, or the DVD's I got for my birthday in 2008, but I will always remember the Christmas gift of 2009.
Merry Christmas Bella and Buddy!
Three months ago, this was not my Christmas wish. In fact, I didn't know about these puppies three months ago. But it all started one fateful day in September. That's when I arrived with my family at my parents’ house in Livingston and happened upon two curious, yet timid puppies who were roaming about. After earning their trust, we began to feed them and tend to them.
We found out that these four month old puppies had been dumped days before. They ate as if they didn’t know when their next meal would come; their stomachs were bloated from malnutrition; and they were infested with fleas. Despite all of this, this male and female pair was sweet and loving. We spent the weekend caring for them and I tried my best to find a rescue group to take them. Sadly, rescue groups and shelters are currently overwhelmed, so this proved to be a challenging task. We finally found a rescue group in East Texas that arranged for a shelter in Houston to take them, so we loaded up the pups Sunday afternoon with the plan to drop them off Monday. We thought we’d say good-bye and that they would soon be placed in good forever homes. It was not that easy.
It turns out that they were going to euthanize the female because of a bump on her leg that was identified as a fungus. This is easily treatable, but also contagious, and the shelter has neither the time nor the resources to commit to any treatment, regardless of how simple. We found ourselves in a situation where we would either have to foster them or leave them there knowing that the female would be put down. There was only one solution – we would foster. We also had to name them - so they became Bella and Buddy.
I could not have fostered them by myself - my mom fostered in the beginning and then after I took over, she helped me by keeping them when I was out of town and letting them out during days when I was working long hours. We also had to load them up in the car with us one weekend when we all left town to go back up to the lake. Somehow, even though we weren't set up for this, we made it work. It was difficult, but I did enjoy having them and watching as they got healthy and socialized.
Bella and Buddy will spend a couple more weeks with me. The nice lady who is adopting them lives on three acres which are completely fenced in and secure. She and her husband have three kids who have wanted to open their hearts to a dog for years. Finally, mom decided that the time is right. She has already paid the adoption fee and will pick them up on Dec. 20th. They will stay at her in-laws during that week. Her in-laws will bring them over to their house Christmas morning to surprise the kids.
I don't know who I am more excited for: the kids or the puppies! Saying good-bye to them will be bittersweet. Taking care of them has been challenging and tiring, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't love them. I don't think that it is farewell though - I offered to dogsit for them should the opportunity arise.
So this Christmas gift is not just a gift for three lucky kids...it is a gift of lifelong companionship for the entire family; a gift of a safe and loving home for two scared puppies that were left for dead through no fault of their own; and it is the best Christmas gift I could ask for because I know that these sweet pups will be loved and cared for throughout their lives. I may not remember the book that I got for Christmas in 2007, or the DVD's I got for my birthday in 2008, but I will always remember the Christmas gift of 2009.
Merry Christmas Bella and Buddy!
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